by Emily Bex
His mind long gone from the beast, the restlessness dissipates instantly with her in his arms. But the nagging thoughts are still tangled in the back of his mind. If the beast comes out, she will surely die, he will shower her with hellish blackness and satisfy his sexual demands. Shade vows the beast will not take her from him.
Her body is soft, warm, and yielding beneath him. Her lips tempt him, and the beast is fighting him. He likes when she is aggressive, and his cock is already hard as steel. He craves to feed from her.
"Unexpected, but very welcomed apparently!"
She runs her tongue from his collar bone, up his neck, across the course stubble to his jawline, before nipping hard on his chin. "Always welcome, lover. I missed you." She slides her legs around his hips, feeling the hard steel between his legs.
His body responds, and even as the beast fights for release, he will never give up these moments with her. She deserves to be loved to the fullest. Mortal men have no clue how to treat women, or understand what they craved deep in their heart, but he does. His hands clasp her thighs tightly as her lips trail over his face and the moan that escapes him is the beast knocking hard on that locked door. Nuzzling into her neck, licking her vein, Shade pulls back. He needs to feed but the beast is so alive! Slamming his fists on the floor, he moans.
"Damn woman, I need you, fuck do I need you!"
***
She is startled when his fist slams the floor beside her.
"And I am here for you, Shade."
His eyes glow red and his fangs have punched through and she knows he needs to feed. She slides her hands into his hair, pulling his face forward, kissing his mouth, sliding her tongue across his fangs.
***
Her sweet tongue tempts far beyond his limits of holding the beast at bay. The most erotic thing to any vampire is to touch his fangs. It sends a bolt of erotic pleasure straight to his core, and he is feeling it deep. He pushes away from her, lifting himself off her body, scrambling to his feet, pacing the floor. His growl is deep and low, agitated that his desire for her is off the charts, and he can’t control the beast’s beckoning as he pushes him further and further to just take his mate. Enough of this torture, she has pushed his beast too far this time.
"Bel, never do that again!"
She feels hurt and confused when he pushes up from her and walks away. She sits on the floor, looking up at him as he paces.
"I don't understand. What's wrong?"
***
His painful rejection of her stabs him like a knife, his breathing is labored, and his heart is in agony. He never means to hurt her, but she doesn’t understand what lay beneath his surface, crouched and ready to attack her. Standing with his back to her, he stops the pacing. His voice is low and yet stern.
"I am sorry Kate, but there is darkness in me. And I have struggled for a while now to hold it at bay, but damn you tempt that dark evil inside me beyond anything I have ever felt. You have done nothing wrong, but I can’t control it when you lure me with such open need and wanting. Licking my fangs just about takes me into fucking orbit. Do you understand what I am saying?"
***
She bows her head down, looking at the floor.
"You have underestimated me. I have always seen the dark side. From the first time I laid eyes on you. I know you shield me. I am always aware when you do. But I am telling you, it is not necessary. I love the darkness. I was drawn to it. Please, don't push me away. You think I need protection from you, and I know better."
***
He spins on his heels. His eyes burn like flames they glow so intensely. His fangs are bared, and his growl is fierce. She is mortal and has no knowledge of what she speaks.
"You know nothing of what lies inside me woman. Nothing! He will eat you alive, drain you, kill you. I cannot let that happen! I have no idea how the beast inside me will react. I know from past experience, he rears up inside and plays no games with immortals. I will not take the chance of letting him loose on you, Kate. He will shred your body, have... Cazzo! I can’t take much more, please I can’t let him loose on you, please understand this."
Taking deep breaths, his fangs retract, and his eyes return to their blue hue. He begins to strip off his clothes and walk into the bathroom, his body still clenched like a steel rod, every muscle tense.
"Taking a shower, think about what I have told you. This is no game, no tease, he will be something you have never seen, and it frightens me for you."
***
She watches as he tosses his clothes aside and walks to the bathroom alone, sending a clear message she is not to join him there. She hears the water running as she gets up from the floor, undresses and slides a gown over her head before climbing in bed. She can't imagine there would be anything about him she would not accept, and his rejection hurts to the core.
***
The water flows over him, cascading down his muscular form, washing away the night of grime and work. With it goes the hell and torture he feels inside for what he has done to her. His body aches and his heart cries out with pain at the words he screamed at her. His hunger is still vividly alive. Although he refuses to let the beast free, he fights and struggles to keep his inner darkness from touching her. The fucking beast has won. He is torturing them both, bringing pain to both of them. Shaking the water from his hair, his hands stretch out above his head, wanting to strike at something, kill it, rip it apart, but he knows he can never tame his beast.
Could she tame him? He dares not try, but he knows he must go to her now and be the man she knows, her savage lover. But if she knew just how savage he really was, would she turn away? Finishing his shower, barely running the towel over his body and hair, flinging it to the floor, he slowly walks back into the bedroom to find her sitting on the bed, sheathed in a beautiful white nightgown. Every curve of her body accentuated by the sheer fabric as it clings and drapes, floating weightlessly around her. She is backlit by the bedside lamp, making her silhouette visible through the gossamer gown, and her crimson looking even redder against the backdrop of white. His breath halts in his throat. She has no idea how the mere sight of her brings him to his knees. Her back is to him and it is a blatant rejection of his hurtful words to her.
"Kate, look at me."
***
She looks over her shoulder at him, sees her own pain mirrored in his eyes. She turns in the bed and holds her hand out to him.
"Come. Whatever haunts you, please, show me, teach me. I will not turn away."
Her delicate hand reaches out for him and he gently takes it within his strong callused one. Sliding in beside her, he pulls her to his chest. He feels calmer, the beast pushed down for now, less tempted, but Shade still feels the gnawing pain of the hunger. Her crimson locks stream across his chest as she lays her head down over his heart, and he moans from the magnitude of love that slams into him.
***
His hands begin to stroke her crimson silk, letting the feel of it roll through his fingers, calming him.
"Bel, I do not mean to upset you, or reject you. The beast inside me is dangerous. He wants to have you, his way. You are not strong enough yet and I have fears of letting him go. Please understand this, I do not know what he can or will do to you. I have never let him out on a mortal before. I could not bear him harming you. I may not be able to control him once he is loose, do you understand? I love you beyond anything I have ever known, and I will not let him take from me what I live and breathe for. I promised to protect you with my life, and that includes protecting you from me and what lies within me. You have my blood flowing in you now, the more you feed, the stronger you will become, and you will feel him rise inside you. I have no choice but to back away when you bring him so close I lose control of him. I love you desperately with all my being. Forgive me."
***
She lies with her head against his chest, feels his hand through her hair.
"There is nothing to forgive, lover. I fear you worry over nothing. I feel the da
rkness already. I have always felt it, and I embrace it. It is part of you. This beast is part of you. Teach me what he needs. Let me tame him, let me calm him, as I calm you."
***
"It will take time mi amore, and more strength. But I will work with you, so you can feel him more rapidly, knowing the signs of his approach within me. You must learn to feel me deep, follow my lead, and listen to my commands, not just for the beast but in all things Kate, for your own safety and protection until you become stronger. It will come with time. Do not rush it, but I need to learn better control myself. I will kill myself if I ever harm you."
Pulling her further up his chest, he nuzzles deep into her neck, nipping her ear and then her shoulder, his fangs punching through.
"Let me taste you, soothe me and the beast, I need you to help me. The blood will help him settle and then I can become stronger to fight him down, si?"
She pulls her hair back, tilting her head so the pale skin of her long, slender neck is fully exposed to him, offering herself.
"Lover, in all things, you lead, and I will follow."
Sinking his fangs deep, her words ring loud in his ears and he knows she will always follow him, even to the depths of hell. He only hopes he can bring them back together. The explosion of her blood slides like silk down his throat and his growl rattles the bed, her healing energy filling his veins and he feels the beast settle down. Drinking to his fill, he feels the immense sexual pull of her body as he licks her wound clean and pulls her lips to his neck, sliding his hand down her back and gripping that sweet plump ass that fits so perfectly in his hand.
"Feed, mi amore."
***
His growl is deep and visceral, and she feels the vibration of it through her body, and it sends a shiver down her spine. When he breaks away, he asks her to feed. She kisses his mouth, her blood still on his lips, before she lowers her head to his neck and buries her face against him, inhales his scent, his indefinable scent of maleness, a heady, erotic scent of musk, and sex. He smells like sex. She bites hard and without hesitation as she hears his sharp intake of breath, and slowly draws his blood into her mouth. She slides her hand down his chest, grasping the solid steel of his cock.
***
Her dull teeth rip at his neck and that first draw always makes him feel like flying to the fucking moon with her. His mate, the only one ever to feed from his potent, powerful, sexually charged master’s blood. Her hand grips his cock and he struggles.
“No, bel, no!” Feeling the beast rise up, he knows he will have to fight, and his body is ravaged by this endless struggle for control. "Mi amore, release your grip. I have you, bel, I have you. Feed, draw deep."
Feeling her hand slip away, he slides his hand from her ass, over her hip, and between her legs. His fingers walk through soft curls and over her clit. Feeling her body grind into his fingers, he growls, letting his fingers slide further between that silken cleft, plunging deep inside her.
"Let me take care of you mi amore, cum for your savage lover."
Stroking her deep, her lips draw his blood and he feels her move and buck, exploding on his fingers, the musky scent of her sweet juices encompassing him totally. Watching as she unlatches from his vein and throws her head back, he smiles. She is the most beautiful creature when she cums for him. He licks the blood from her lips, and then licks his fingers clean as her eyes bore into his.
"You are mine!"
She falls against his chest, letting her arms slide around him.
"Relax, bel, I am close to my slumber, it is calling me. Tonight, when we awaken, I will stay home. I am not going into the city. I have a request of you, so listen carefully. You will come to me in the evening. You will dress in one thing only. Please me, think about what will please your savage lover. One thing, bel, just one thing. The night will belong to us and us alone, si? And I will teach you how to respond to your master."
Feeling the pull of the death slumber, his arms hug her close to his chest, his hand tangles in her hair and the words are barely audible as the slumber takes him from her once again.
"I love you, bel."
***
She watches as his face relaxes in his death slumber, and his pledge of love is still on his lips. His request replays in her head. One thing? He wants her to come to him wearing the one thing that will please him. She will have to think about that one. She curls into him, her head on his chest as she feels his arm encircle her, protecting her, even in his sleep.
36
Shade wakes before her, slips from their bed and pulls on a pair of leather pants before walking barefoot and bare-chested downstairs to call Tomas, leaving him in charge at the Dead House and letting him know he has decided to take a night off. Activity has been light, and there are some things he can monitor from home. He pours himself a Midnight and plops down in his office.
His beast is getting the upper hand, and there is only so much Shade can do to control him. She teases and seduces, with no idea of how close the beast rises to the surface. If he can’t control the beast, then he must control her. He must teach her to hear his commands, respond to his demands, and restrain her desires when he can no longer restrain his.
***
Kate wakes and knows immediately he has left their bed but can feel he is still in the house. She remembers their conversation from this morning. That he would teach her how to respond to him. She feels confused. Does she not already respond to him? And the beast, he always worries about the beast.
She gets out of bed and still wearing her nightgown, walks barefoot down the stairs, opening herself to him, feeling his presence in the house and following him into his office, where he sits in the large leather chair. She walks to him in the dimly lit room and climbs onto his lap. He gives her a stern look.
She runs her finger across his lips. “You should have told me your fangs were an erogenous zone. Was it good for you, lover?”
“Beyond anything you can mortally imagine, mi amore. But one day, you shall experience the same.”
“But… you told me to never do it again. I don’t understand.”
***
He lays his head back against the high-backed chair, closing his eyes.
“Bel, I have only so much control over the beast. You can only tempt him so much. Woman, you do not listen! Must I remind you that you are to follow my lead?”
Kate lays her head on his chest. “I didn’t think I was pushing you too far.”
A wicked snarl escapes his lips as he grips her chin in his hand, turning her face up to his, his eyes bore into hers.
“Keep it up, my walking sin.”
Kate smiles coquettishly at him, “You have much to learn about me, lover.”
He raises his eyebrows, “Then you shall teach this old vampire some new tricks?”
“Oh, I am pretty sure you know all the tricks. If you want me to respond differently, you're going to have to think of a different approach.”
His blue eyes reflect the dim light, “You will remember there is no pleasure without some pain.”
“I remember well. Are you tempting me now?”
“You, mi amore, are the goddess of temptation! You breathe and you tempt me, you move and I want to kiss every inch of your pure white skin, you look at me and I want to ravish your body. But be careful what you wish for, bel, the beast does not understand limits.”
***
She runs her fingers along his strong jaw, “Tempting you is my favorite thing to do, actually, my second favorite thing. What comes after the tempting is always my favorite thing. Last night, you put a rose tipped flogger in my dreams. Do you need to put me across your knee? Or would you prefer to have me kneel at your feet? Is that what you want, lover? Do you want me to obey and kneel at your feet?”
She slides from his lap and kneels on the floor at his feet as he stands up from the chair. “Like this? Is this what you want? Do you want me to wait for your direction...sir?”
He looks down at her as she knee
ls before him, “When you come to me in such a manner, you bear your soul to me. Is that understood?”
She keeps her head lowered, as she leans against his strong legs, “Yes, sir. Completely.”
His voice is hard, emotionless. “You will not call me sir. My name is master, and you will address me as such. Last night, I told you to come to me wearing one thing. I hope you have thought about what will please me. Now, rise and kiss me.”
“Yes, master.” She stands up before him and lifts herself on her tip toes to kiss his lips, as he does not bend down to meet her. She places her arms around his strong shoulders and kisses his beautiful mouth.
***
He does not return her touch when she kisses him and touches him, and he melts. He will never be able to train her as he sees fit, for it will be as much punishment to him as it is to her. Inhaling deeply, he smells her rose scent and his head swoons, wanting to take her in his arms and hold her against his body, kiss her until she passes out from not breathing. Getting his body and brain back together, he looks down at her and knows he would kill anything that even has one damn thought of her.
“Your kiss is sweet, and yearning, I am pleased. Go now and put on the one item you think will please me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, master. Would you like to give me a hint as to what the one item should be?”
“No! I will give you no hints. Remember your place or you will pay, and when you flare my beast, he will not be gentle with you. You do not ask me questions. You ask permission first to even talk. I think, my sweet bel, you need some rules.”
She stands before him, trying to gauge his mood, “Yes, master. I do need rules. I need you to teach me. May I ask you a question, please?”
He grabs her hair, fisting it around his hand as he pulls her head back and leans in millimeters from her lips. He hisses out his response, “Ask one question, make it a good one.”
He licks her lips with the tip of his tongue, circling them both while holding her still with the steel grip on her hair, not letting her move.
***
If this ‘lesson’ is meant to intimidate her, it is failing miserably as she is highly aroused by him.